Sierra Norte, Utiel-Requena (Valencia, Spain) Bobal 2015

 Made entirely from Bobal fruit grown up at some of the highest elevations in the appellation, over 2,900 feet.  The vines behind this average 60 years of age, yet the oaking is on the modest side at just six months, which enables the fruit to shine.  I tasted this in mid-July of 2019 at my home, so it didn’t benefit from any “halo effect” of being tasted in the beautiful setting of Utiel-Requena.  Moreover, I tasted it with dinner alongside a much more expensive Douro red, and this was obviously superior in purity, balance and overall sheer deliciousness.  Medium-plus in body, with fine grained tannins and a nice little edge of spice, this is substantial but fresh at once, suited to an extremely wide range of foods.